Alpine Condemns Social Media Attacks Against Lando Norris
Alpine has offered its support to Lando Norris, who became a target due to the crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and his subsequent remarks.
Following the crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, McLaren driver Lando Norris called for Franco Colapinto to be banned from racing, which led to intense social media attacks. In response, the Alpine team issued an official statement of condemnation.
The Incident in Baku and Its Aftermath
In the incident in Baku that resulted in three drivers retiring from the race, an error by Alpine driver Franco Colapinto caused both his teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren driver Lando Norris to crash out. Following the incident, Norris argued that Colapinto should be banned from racing.
Social Media Reactions
Lando Norris's call for Colapinto to be banned sparked severe backlash, particularly from Argentine fans. Following these remarks, Norris became the target of intense insults and threats on social media, facing a massive wave of cyberbullying.
The Alpine Team's Statement
Taking a firm stance against the ongoing controversy and the subsequent threats, the Alpine team expressed support for Lando Norris. The team stated that mistakes can happen on the track, but under no circumstances should anyone be subjected to such attacks.
Combating Online Hate
Alpine emphasized that hate speech on social media is a universal issue affecting the entire Formula 1 community. The team announced that they will continue to cooperate with the FIA and other teams to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Colapinto's Apology and Penalty
Following the crash, Franco Colapinto accepted responsibility and extended his apologies to the Alpine team as well as to Norris and Gasly. The Argentine driver will also receive a five-place grid penalty at the next race.